Importance

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Abstract

A nuclear fuel assembly grid (100) made from a plurality of interlaced corrugated metal strips (102-116) forming an egg-crate configuration so as to define plurality of four-walled cells (118) for receiving respective individual fuel rods (120). The spaced apart vertical bend lines (160,162) of the currugation define vertices (130,132) and consecutive body panels (164,166) which alternate generally inwardly and outwardly between consecutive bend lines. A vertical slot (168) extending from one of the strip upper or lower edges (176) into each panel midway between consecutive bend lines, and overlapping a slot from an interlaced strip to form an hourglass-shaped cell having opposed convex walls and opposed concave walls and four 90 degree corners (150). Spring (148) and stop (153) structure projects from each wall of a cell, for centering and supporting the fuel rod within the cell. A flow deflector vane (122) extends from the upper edge of a convex wall adjacent one corner and is bent over in the inward direction generally toward the fuel rod in the cell. A tab (354) extends vertically from the upper edge of the concave wall adjacent the corner and the vane, for restricting lateral flow leakage around the vane. Each tab has a hood portion (355B) that projects toward the center of the cell in overlapping relation to the adjacent vane.

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First Claim